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German Word of the Day: Blaumachen

The Local Germany
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German Word of the Day: Blaumachen
Photo: Depositphotos

A word to remember the next time you call into work sick. You don't want to be accused of 'making blue'.

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Blaumachen is a verb made up of 'Blau' (blue) and 'machen' (to do or to make) and means 'to skive' or 'to skip work (or school)'. 

You're bound to know the feeling: when the alarm rings in the morning and you can't get out of bed. Maybe, just maybe, you decide to have a duvet day instead of going into school or work. 

It's unclear exactly where the term comes from, but it perhaps originates from 'Blauer Montag' or 'Blue Monday', traditionally a day when some tradespeople didn't work or didn't want to put full effort in after the weekend.

So how do you use it?

Photo: DPA

You could say: 

Sie hat blaugemacht und ist nicht zur Arbeit gegangen

She skived off and didn't go to work.

Der Schüler möchte heute unbedingt blaumachen.

The pupil/student really wants to skip school today.

Sie hätte bei der Arbeit nicht blaumachen sollen. Jetzt wird sie gefeuert.
 
She shouldn't have skipped work, now she's going to be fired.

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